On a toothbrush

ABSTRACT

A toothbrush has a head, and a handle; the head is formed with upper and lower portions joined to each other, which together have an inverted L shaped cross-section. The upper portion of the head is joined to the handle such that the head is rotary. The head has first and second bristles on a lower side of the upper portion, and an inner side of the lower portion respectively. Thus, the first and the second bristles can be pressed against, and moved over, top and one of lateral surfaces of a row of teeth for cleaning both of them respectively at the same time; the head turns to change orientation thereof relative to the handle according to curvature of different sections of a row of teeth, on which it is being moved along, thus increasing smoothness of movement thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a toothbrush, more particularly one, which has a head capable of making rotary movement and formed with bristles on a vertical side as well as a horizontal side so that the toothbrush can be used for brushing tops and one lateral side of teeth smoothly at the same time.

[0003] 2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

[0004] It is very important to maintain the health of teeth because man has to chew foods with his teeth for helping digestion of the foods in the stomach. Teeth will get dirty, and small residuals of foods will get into the concavities between teeth while we eat therefore the entire dirt must be cleaned off from teeth. Toothbrush is a main tool for brushing off such dirt and residuals.

[0005] A most common toothbrush, as shown in FIG. 5, consists of a handle, a head fixedly joined to the handle, and bristles secured to a lower side of the head. The bristles of such toothbrush are moved over each surface of teeth to brush off dirt. However, it is not very easy to effectively clean the inward surface of teeth with such toothbrush because only one side of the head is formed with bristles.

[0006] To overcome the disadvantages of the above toothbrush, another toothbrush is provided, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8. The toothbrush has a head, which is fixedly joined to the handle, and which is made to have a substantially inverted U shaped cross-section, and has bristles formed on each of three inner sides of the head. Thus, the head can be placed over teeth, and inward side, outward side and top of teeth can be cleaned with the bristles at the same time when the head is moved to and fro over each row of teeth.

[0007] However, this toothbrush is found to have disadvantages as followings:

[0008] 1. Because the distance from the bristles on one lateral side of the head to those on the other lateral side can't be changed, the head will be too loose on the front row of teeth if it can be exactly fitted over the bigger rear teeth and vice versa. In other words, this toothbrush cannot brush three sides of every tooth at the same time, and the performance of cleaning is badly affected.

[0009] 2. Because the head cannot turn relative to the handle, when the head is moved along a row of teeth while the toothbrush is being used, the head is prone to hit those curved portions of the gums to cause discomfort, and even bleeding, of the gums.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is a main object of the present invention to provide a toothbrush, which has a head capable of making rotary movement and being used for brushing tops and one lateral side of teeth smoothly and effectively at the same time.

[0011] The toothbrush of the present invention includes a head, which has a horizontal portion and a vertical portion joined to the horizontal portion. The horizontal portion is joined to a handle such that the head is rotary on the handle. The head has first and second bristles on a lower side of the horizontal portion, and an inner side of the vertical portion respectively. To use the toothbrush, the head is moved to and fro with the first and the second bristles being respectively pressed against top of teeth and one of two lateral sides of teeth. After one of the lateral sides of teeth has been cleaned with the bristles, the head is turned for one hundred and eighty degrees so that the bristles can be used to clean the other lateral side of teeth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The present invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0013]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the toothbrush according to the present invention,

[0014]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the toothbrush according to the present invention,

[0015]FIG. 3 is a view of the toothbrush of the present invention in use,

[0016]FIG. 4 is another view of the toothbrush of the present invention in use,

[0017]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the first conventional toothbrush as described in the Background,

[0018]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the second conventional toothbrush as described in the Background,

[0019]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the second conventional toothbrush; and,

[0020]FIG. 8 is another cross-sectional view of the second conventional toothbrush.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1, and 2, a preferred embodiment of a toothbrush in the present invention includes a handle 1, and a head 2.

[0022] The handle 1 is shaped such that a user can hold it comfortably, and has a round engaging hole 11 at a front end.

[0023] The head 2 is made to have an upper horizontal portion, and a lower vertical portion joined to the upper horizontal portion so that it look like an inverted L in a front view. The upper horizontal portion of the head 2 has an engaging protrusion 21 on an upper surface. The head 2 has bristles 22, and 23 respectively secured to a lower side of the upper horizontal portion, and an inner side of the lower vertical portion.

[0024] In assembly, the engaging protrusion 21 is fitted into the engaging hole 11 of the handle 1 so that the head 2 can be turned around the engaging hole 11.

[0025] To use the present toothbrush, referring to FIG. 3, the bristles 22 are paced on top of teeth while the bristles 23 are pressed against one of two lateral sides of teeth, i.e. inward and outward sides, and then the head 2 is moved to and fro on the teeth. The head 2 will turn to change its orientation relative to the handle 1 automatically according to curvature of different sections of a row of teeth as well as curvature of the joints between different rows of teeth, on which it is being moved along. After one of the lateral sides of teeth has been cleaned with the bristles 23, the head 2 is turned so that the bristles 23 can be used to clean the other lateral side of teeth, as shown in FIG. 4. And, the toothbrush is used in the same way mentioned above.

[0026] From the above description, it can be easily understood that the toothbrush of the present invention has advantages as followings:

[0027] 1. Because of the shape of the head 2, the bristles 23 can be always pressed against a lateral surface of teeth when the head 2 is moved along a row of teeth, or from a lateral row of teeth to a front row of teeth. Consequently, all teeth and both lateral sides of teeth can be cleaned effectively.

[0028] 2. Because the head 2 can turn around the engaging hole 11 of the handle 1, it can turn to change orientation thereof relative to the handle 1 automatically according to curvature of different sections of a row of teeth as well as curvature of joints between different rows of teeth when the toothbrush is being used, and in turns, the head can be moved over teeth smoothly. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An improvement on a toothbrush, comprising a head joined to a handle thereof; the head including an upper portion and a lower portion projecting down from the upper portion, which together has an inverted L shaped cross-section; the head being rotary on the handle with an engaging protrusion on an upper side of the upper portion being fitted into an engaging hole of the handle; the head having first and second bristles on a lower side of the upper portion, and an inner side of the lower portion respectively; whereby top and one of two lateral surfaces of a row of teeth can be cleaned at a same time with the first and the second bristles being pressed against, and moved over, both of them respectively; the head turning to change orientation thereof relative to the handle according to curvature of different sections of a row of teeth, on which it is being moved along, thus helping increase smoothness of movement thereof. 